NR 326 Exam 1 Chamberlain Mental Health Nursing 2026/2027 |
Chamberlain University NR326 Mental Health Nursing Exam 1 Study Guide,
Exam Prep, Practice Questions with Answers & Rationales, Psychiatric
Mental Health Nursing, Therapeutic Communication, Nurse-Client
Relationship, Defense Mechanisms, Mental Health & Mental Illness,
Psychobiology, Anxiety, Crisis Intervention, Suicide Prevention, Legal &
Ethical Issues
Question 1: A nurse is assessing a client who is experiencing a panic attack. The
client states, "I feel like I'm going to die." Which of the following findings should
the nurse expect based on the level of anxiety?
A. The client is able to solve complex problems.
B. The client's perceptual field is significantly narrowed, and the client may lose
touch with reality.
C. The client is able to learn new information effectively.
D. The client's perceptual field is heightened, and the client is hyper-focused on
the environment.
CORRECT ANSWER: B. The client's perceptual field is significantly narrowed, and
the client may lose touch with reality.
Rationale: Panic-level anxiety is the most intense state of anxiety. During this
level, the client's perceptual field is dramatically reduced, and the client is unable
to focus on even one detail. The client may experience hallucinations or lose
touch with reality, making learning impossible .
Question 2: A client on a psychiatric unit tells the nurse, "I lost my job, so now
I'm going to get back at my wife by refusing to help around the house." The
nurse recognizes this behavior as which defense mechanism?
A. Projection
B. Displacement
C. Rationalization
D. Regression
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Displacement.
,Rationale: Displacement involves transferring feelings from one target to a less
threatening target. The client is angry about losing their job but is displacing that
anger onto their spouse rather than addressing the original source of frustration .
Question 3: A nurse is reviewing the definition of mental health with a client.
Which of the following statements by the client indicates a correct
understanding of mental health?
A. "Mental health means I will never experience anxiety or sadness."
B. "Mental health is the successful adaptation to stressors from the internal or
external environment."
C. "Mental health requires me to take medication daily to stay stable."
D. "Mental health means I can function without any support from others."
CORRECT ANSWER: B. "Mental health is the successful adaptation to stressors
from the internal or external environment."
Rationale: Mental health is defined as successful adaptation to stressors from the
internal or external environment, evidenced by thoughts, feelings, and behaviors
that are age-appropriate and congruent with local and cultural norms. It does not
mean the absence of all negative emotions or the need for lifelong medication .
Question 4: According to Erikson's stages of psychosocial development, a client
who is struggling to form intimate relationships and fears commitment is likely
in which stage?
A. Identity vs. role confusion
B. Intimacy vs. isolation
C. Generativity vs. stagnation
D. Trust vs. mistrust
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Intimacy vs. isolation.
Rationale: Erikson's stage of intimacy vs. isolation occurs in young adulthood. The
developmental task is forming intimate, loving relationships with others. Failure
to achieve intimacy can result in social isolation and a fear of commitment .
Question 5: A nurse is using Maslow's hierarchy of needs to prioritize care.
Which client need should the nurse address first?
,A. A client who reports feeling lonely after a recent divorce
B. A client who has not eaten since admission 12 hours ago
C. A client who is anxious about an upcoming procedure
D. A client who wants to discuss career goals after discharge
CORRECT ANSWER: B. A client who has not eaten since admission 12 hours ago.
Rationale: Maslow's hierarchy prioritizes physiological needs (food, water, air,
sleep) as the foundation before safety, love/belonging, esteem, and self-
actualization needs. A client who has not eaten requires immediate attention to
meet a basic physiological need .
Question 6: Which of the following statements by a nurse demonstrates an
understanding of the ethical principle of beneficence?
A. "I will respect the client's right to refuse their medication."
B. "I will ensure the client receives fair treatment regardless of their insurance
status."
C. "I will always act in the best interest of my client, even when it is difficult."
D. "I will be completely honest with the client about their diagnosis and
prognosis."
CORRECT ANSWER: C. "I will always act in the best interest of my client, even
when it is difficult."
Rationale: Beneficence is the ethical principle of acting in the best interest of the
client and promoting their well-being. Autonomy involves respecting the client's
right to make decisions, justice involves fair treatment, and veracity involves
truthfulness .
Question 7: A nurse is using therapeutic communication with a client who
expresses feelings of hopelessness. Which of the following responses is most
therapeutic?
A. "You have so much to live for. Focus on the positive things."
B. "It sounds like you are feeling really hopeless right now. Tell me more about
that."
C. "Don't worry, things will get better soon."
D. "You shouldn't feel that way. Others have it much worse than you."
, CORRECT ANSWER: B. "It sounds like you are feeling really hopeless right now.
Tell me more about that."
Rationale: Therapeutic communication involves validating the client's feelings and
encouraging further exploration. Offering false reassurance, dismissing feelings,
or comparing the client to others are non-therapeutic and can hinder the nurse-
client relationship .
Question 8: A nurse is assessing a client's mental status. Which of the following
components are included in a mental status examination (MSE)?
A. Appearance and behavior
B. Mood and affect
C. Thought process and content
D. All of the above
CORRECT ANSWER: D. All of the above.
Rationale: The mental status examination is a structured assessment of a client's
cognitive and emotional functioning. It includes evaluation of appearance,
behavior, speech, mood, affect, thought process, thought content, perception,
cognition, insight, and judgment .
Question 9: A client who has been diagnosed with a mental illness is exhibiting
maladaptive behaviors. According to the course definition, which of the
following best describes mental illness?
A. The successful adaptation to stressors from the internal or external
environment
B. Maladaptive responses to stressors evidenced by thoughts, feelings, and
behaviors incongruent with local and cultural norms
C. A temporary state of anxiety that resolves with support from family and friends
D. The inability to achieve self-actualization as described by Maslow
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Maladaptive responses to stressors evidenced by
thoughts, feelings, and behaviors incongruent with local and cultural norms.
Rationale: Mental illness is defined as maladaptive responses to stressors from
the internal or external environment, evidenced by thoughts, feelings, and
behaviors that are incongruent with local and cultural norms and interfere with
Chamberlain University NR326 Mental Health Nursing Exam 1 Study Guide,
Exam Prep, Practice Questions with Answers & Rationales, Psychiatric
Mental Health Nursing, Therapeutic Communication, Nurse-Client
Relationship, Defense Mechanisms, Mental Health & Mental Illness,
Psychobiology, Anxiety, Crisis Intervention, Suicide Prevention, Legal &
Ethical Issues
Question 1: A nurse is assessing a client who is experiencing a panic attack. The
client states, "I feel like I'm going to die." Which of the following findings should
the nurse expect based on the level of anxiety?
A. The client is able to solve complex problems.
B. The client's perceptual field is significantly narrowed, and the client may lose
touch with reality.
C. The client is able to learn new information effectively.
D. The client's perceptual field is heightened, and the client is hyper-focused on
the environment.
CORRECT ANSWER: B. The client's perceptual field is significantly narrowed, and
the client may lose touch with reality.
Rationale: Panic-level anxiety is the most intense state of anxiety. During this
level, the client's perceptual field is dramatically reduced, and the client is unable
to focus on even one detail. The client may experience hallucinations or lose
touch with reality, making learning impossible .
Question 2: A client on a psychiatric unit tells the nurse, "I lost my job, so now
I'm going to get back at my wife by refusing to help around the house." The
nurse recognizes this behavior as which defense mechanism?
A. Projection
B. Displacement
C. Rationalization
D. Regression
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Displacement.
,Rationale: Displacement involves transferring feelings from one target to a less
threatening target. The client is angry about losing their job but is displacing that
anger onto their spouse rather than addressing the original source of frustration .
Question 3: A nurse is reviewing the definition of mental health with a client.
Which of the following statements by the client indicates a correct
understanding of mental health?
A. "Mental health means I will never experience anxiety or sadness."
B. "Mental health is the successful adaptation to stressors from the internal or
external environment."
C. "Mental health requires me to take medication daily to stay stable."
D. "Mental health means I can function without any support from others."
CORRECT ANSWER: B. "Mental health is the successful adaptation to stressors
from the internal or external environment."
Rationale: Mental health is defined as successful adaptation to stressors from the
internal or external environment, evidenced by thoughts, feelings, and behaviors
that are age-appropriate and congruent with local and cultural norms. It does not
mean the absence of all negative emotions or the need for lifelong medication .
Question 4: According to Erikson's stages of psychosocial development, a client
who is struggling to form intimate relationships and fears commitment is likely
in which stage?
A. Identity vs. role confusion
B. Intimacy vs. isolation
C. Generativity vs. stagnation
D. Trust vs. mistrust
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Intimacy vs. isolation.
Rationale: Erikson's stage of intimacy vs. isolation occurs in young adulthood. The
developmental task is forming intimate, loving relationships with others. Failure
to achieve intimacy can result in social isolation and a fear of commitment .
Question 5: A nurse is using Maslow's hierarchy of needs to prioritize care.
Which client need should the nurse address first?
,A. A client who reports feeling lonely after a recent divorce
B. A client who has not eaten since admission 12 hours ago
C. A client who is anxious about an upcoming procedure
D. A client who wants to discuss career goals after discharge
CORRECT ANSWER: B. A client who has not eaten since admission 12 hours ago.
Rationale: Maslow's hierarchy prioritizes physiological needs (food, water, air,
sleep) as the foundation before safety, love/belonging, esteem, and self-
actualization needs. A client who has not eaten requires immediate attention to
meet a basic physiological need .
Question 6: Which of the following statements by a nurse demonstrates an
understanding of the ethical principle of beneficence?
A. "I will respect the client's right to refuse their medication."
B. "I will ensure the client receives fair treatment regardless of their insurance
status."
C. "I will always act in the best interest of my client, even when it is difficult."
D. "I will be completely honest with the client about their diagnosis and
prognosis."
CORRECT ANSWER: C. "I will always act in the best interest of my client, even
when it is difficult."
Rationale: Beneficence is the ethical principle of acting in the best interest of the
client and promoting their well-being. Autonomy involves respecting the client's
right to make decisions, justice involves fair treatment, and veracity involves
truthfulness .
Question 7: A nurse is using therapeutic communication with a client who
expresses feelings of hopelessness. Which of the following responses is most
therapeutic?
A. "You have so much to live for. Focus on the positive things."
B. "It sounds like you are feeling really hopeless right now. Tell me more about
that."
C. "Don't worry, things will get better soon."
D. "You shouldn't feel that way. Others have it much worse than you."
, CORRECT ANSWER: B. "It sounds like you are feeling really hopeless right now.
Tell me more about that."
Rationale: Therapeutic communication involves validating the client's feelings and
encouraging further exploration. Offering false reassurance, dismissing feelings,
or comparing the client to others are non-therapeutic and can hinder the nurse-
client relationship .
Question 8: A nurse is assessing a client's mental status. Which of the following
components are included in a mental status examination (MSE)?
A. Appearance and behavior
B. Mood and affect
C. Thought process and content
D. All of the above
CORRECT ANSWER: D. All of the above.
Rationale: The mental status examination is a structured assessment of a client's
cognitive and emotional functioning. It includes evaluation of appearance,
behavior, speech, mood, affect, thought process, thought content, perception,
cognition, insight, and judgment .
Question 9: A client who has been diagnosed with a mental illness is exhibiting
maladaptive behaviors. According to the course definition, which of the
following best describes mental illness?
A. The successful adaptation to stressors from the internal or external
environment
B. Maladaptive responses to stressors evidenced by thoughts, feelings, and
behaviors incongruent with local and cultural norms
C. A temporary state of anxiety that resolves with support from family and friends
D. The inability to achieve self-actualization as described by Maslow
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Maladaptive responses to stressors evidenced by
thoughts, feelings, and behaviors incongruent with local and cultural norms.
Rationale: Mental illness is defined as maladaptive responses to stressors from
the internal or external environment, evidenced by thoughts, feelings, and
behaviors that are incongruent with local and cultural norms and interfere with
